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OCS AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY NOTES 2
ND
PLATOON LATEST
OCS American Military History What to say: Your assigned reading. Use study guide Qs parenthetical items, end of lesson briefing items and be ready for any Qs. No notes. Must be able to brief from memory. Look at the slide on the screen. That will often tell you the key points. Take notes when there are questions – testable. Gross failures: if no one can brief it, then we will move on. No discussion until you see it on the test. No participation = we press on Everyone needs to do the readings supporting these terms the day before class. End of class – look for Blue highlights = items added to the reading list. Make sure you take notes on these. Potential test questions. Lesson 1: A. Definition of war a. A conflict between organized groups with unknown resolve, each seeking to impose its will on the other. i. “Unknown resolve”: you don’t start a war with the intention to lose. Must have the resolve to win ii. M1. And M6. b. Carl Von Clausewitz Def: war is a… continuation of politics by the other means. i. Focus on the political aspect of war ii. M1, M6, S4. B. Trinity of War:
a. Clausewitz: there are 3 factors that interact in war. These factors interact with each other. i. Rational aims/policy ii. Emotions, hatred iii. Chance, combat b. Ex of a test question. Which is a dominant factor? C. Levels of War: (3) a. War Aim: i. The desired end state: the reason why you are fighting in the first place. b. Strategic: All if a nation's arm forces efforts in all campaign to meet the war aim c. Operational: in-theatre forces: large tactical units (armies) d. Tactical: field units – armies and below (the battle) i. M1 M6 S4 compares the impact of the battles of Antietam.
i. is the prevention of enemy forces obtaining unexpected advantage over friendly forces.
- Security is essential to preservation of combat power
- Can be achieve by preventing surprise, preserve freedom of action and deny enemy information of friendly forces.
- Security require risks to be calculated and that no unnecessary chances are taken h. Economy of Force i. Skillful and prudent use of combat power will enable the commander to accomplish the mission with minimum expenditure of resources i. Combat power on the battlefield is a limited resource
- This is the minimum we need to win the wat.
- The shaping operation. F. Principle of War on ID Section a. S M, O L G. Friction: a. Clausewitz: Intangible force that makes the apparently easy task difficult i. Ex. Murphy’s law; danger/misery; fog of war; discipline; multi- actor/joint/coalition ops; environment and the physical act of making war; any challenge not due to enemy action. (it’s the stuff we do to ourselves) H. P.13 Terms: a. Penetration: hitting the center of the enemy line with everything you have with the attempt to rupture the line. b. Envelopment: economy of force use: you hit the enemy in the flank, usually at an angle on the side of rear. c. Turning movement: generally but not always, you go all the way around and strike the enemy in the rear. If successful then you can isolate or surround the enemy. (if they need to turn around to fifth you i. ID questions I. Lin of Communication (LOC) a. Transit, supplies, reinforcement, Commo etc. i. Tangible. That connect you to your base. “the connecting links” b. *BTW, striking enemy’s LOC and other stuff on the front lines is interdiction. i. MC and essay J. Infantry Linear tactic: (the tactic is based on the weapon you have) a. Initially based upon Smoothbore muskets (1600s) i. Close range: 2 - 3 ranks usually tight. ii. Big scale: regimental, open terrain. (shoulder to shoulder)
- You want to get really close the enemy to shoot them in the face. Its very user unfriendly. Hopefully you can kill something. iii. Firing the weapon at the same time, can Maximize Weapon Effects in order to achieve organized controlled combat power.
- This can enhance the musket’s strength and minimize its weakness (the inaccuracy, and how bad they shoot). iv. M
b. For most armies the regiments was the primary tactical and administrative unit: i. But depending on the army and the situation a multi regiment formation could form a brigade.
- M8: regarding the history of the army force structure and policies: (a) a regiment CARS/USARS K. Combined Arms of the Time in Europe: a. By 1700: i. “Combined Arms”: Using weapons in a synchronized and simultaneous application of the elements of combat power to achieve an effect greater … not separately or sequentially. ii. “state of Mind”: attitude, training leader coordination communication, organization culture, METT-TC
- Its more than just a gathering of different weapons. L. Invasion Routes: a. Mohawk river valley, lake Champlain “high speed avenue of approach” and LOC to NY. b. Lake Champlain and lake Erie: Know where they are!!! c. M M. War’s Lessons and Impact: a. Each warfighting style has its place in America. i. Conventional or unconventional tactics may apply. Loyalist = Tories N. Battle of Bunker Hill a. June 1775 i. Poorly supplied but enthusiastic Patriot Militia went to a forward hill b. British aims: take the hill/peninsula and crush the militia. c. Maneuver options existed for the British but were disregarded in favor of the exposed daylight penetration. They don’t respect the enemy, and underestimate the enemy. i. METT-TC: failed to respect enemy. ii. Patriots defended robustly
- Initially British assaults were costly failures but,…
- British were offensive. And controlled the fight
- Patriot gave up the hill begrudgingly.
- Failed to assess their enemy
- They did not failed offensive because they took the hill iii. Observation:
- Patriot had observation on the hill
- British = no cover or concealment iv. High casualty on the British side v. For British, a tactical win but with adversity, and their struggle undermined British legitimacy. O. The US Revolutionary War Aim: Seek Independence not accommodation a. American Strategy i. We only need to “HOLD ON”
- We have large tough land. Home field
- Seek assistance and allies
- Use mixed forces. Conventional, or militias
b. Disadvantage: harder to communicate. c. Outside the arch
- Internal lines: diverging lines from central base a. Shorter line b/t friendly forces = can shift forces and supply easier. i. Inside the arch/circle b. Failed external lines in this battle. i. British fucked up. They came across a lot of problems. c. A British army is defeated by militia and reg forces surrender. British lose an army at Saratoga. i. Impact:
- France sees a safe bet and forms an alliance with the US.
- Political impact: a major power ally with us. U. The Philadelphia Campaign. a. At Brandywine, 1777: Washington fought hard, but was outmaneuvered by Howe. Howe excellence maneuvering i. Washington must retreat because if he tried to stay, he was going to get surrounded. So he need to retreat. Leaves the road open to Philly. Howe took Philly b. Germantown i. Loss for Washington: poor maneuver on Washington part. It was too complex and he cannot control it. Some even committed fratricide. V. After Valley Forge: a. Regular army was made. They were trained via “blue book” W. The 1779 Campaigning Season a. The battle of Monmouth: Washington’s weak plan terrain issues and flubbed maneuver: i. The American messed up maneuver enable the British to counter. b. A draw wrested from near defeated: Confirmation of Washington’s leadership, perseverance, and Steuben’s training and reform in linear infantry combat i. No one can declare a victory at Monmouth. Stalemate. X. Southern Campaign 1780 - 1781 a. The British expect strong loyalist support and also hoped to win the people’s support i. M8 , (a) Y. Waxhaw Massacre: a. British got out of control and shot surrendering soldiers. i. Excuse: I lost control of my men. Wither restrain and legitimacy b. Restraint and legitimacy: i. British action had not met their operational and strategic objectives? Z. Southern Fight an Insurgency: a. Insurgency is .. (slide) b. The patriot are the insurgents in the south. c. They are going to use guerilla warfare: unconventional method of fighting. i. Ex. Sabotage, kidnapping, etc. d. Counterinsurgency: i. … Defeat it and address its root causes. e. Usually it’s the people’s support as the COG.
AA. Cornwallis’ Forces are aggravating the locals. a. R & L: poor British restrain are undermining the legit in the south. The people are starting to lose trust in the British military authority because they are not disciplining the tory forces that were committing atrocities across the land BB. Weak Converge for COIN a. Poor perseverance = poor legitimacy b. Don’t cause an insurant uprising needlessly. CC. Southern Guerilla Campaign a. Legitimacy: Sumter and Marion are getting the people support. i. Because the British undermine themselves. Pissing off locals. ii. Big battles, these guys are not winning them but they win small fights that boost morale. The locals can see more authority in them than the British.
- The British, despite winning over the Guerilla militias, they don’t hunt them down and allow them to flee, hide and come back to fight again. Review: Question on the test:
- C. true/false essay: (1 point per sentence) o Ex. Regarding terrain and troops and compare militia performance at Bunker Hill and Camden (True). At Bunker Hill the militia used strong hold on a hill, but at Camden they were vulnerable on open plain.(True) The Bunker Hill militia was well trained, fully supplied and held the hill.(False) The militia at Camden was local South Carolina militia, but it was poorly trained and was routed (false).*** if anything in a sentence is wrong then the entire sentence is wrong*** American Military History Lesson 2 Late- Revolutionary War through Second Seminole War A. Southern Campaign 1780 - 1781 a. South is the decisive theatre of the war: i. British lost control in the north, however, in the south have some loyalist. b. Go on to North Carolina with a conventional force, and how not to secure the western flank. i. Ferguson: Pre-Kings Mountain: British Civil Affairs: ii. The British getting push back from the Mountain people. The British was threatening patriot with the native forces. c. King’s Mountain: i. To review had the British/Tories goofed line:
- They did not use terrain properly. They were on top. They wear themselves out.
- There were a lot of covers for the ii. The Patriot won the battle iii. The impact: this is a decisive point. British move out of the area.
clauses: (a) Newburg Affair…
Our INDEPENDENCE F. Postwar Fate of the Army: a. 1784: they only have a company size army. G. Constitution: ID Question #2: and 1 MC 10 question a. … “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” b. What does the Constitution do? i. Outline and set up our Government c. Congress Basic Powers: i. Power of the Purse and Make Laws ii. Simple majority by Congress to make the law iii. Law Cannot change the constitution iv. Congress can Formally declare war (Stomp stomp) d. Executive Power: i. President cannot declare war formally (stomp), however, it is an implied power. He need not require to have congressional power to declare war.
- Congress have the power of the purse, even if president declare war, congress can decide not the fund the war. This is how they keep accountability. ii. M10. … iii. The president is the commander in chief during active or peace time, all the time. Anyone in federal service = president. The governor is the guard commander in chief. iv. M10: Newburg affairs… e. Article 1: i. Exercise exclusive legislation… for the erection of Forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards:
- So are the federal installation under federal control or state/local control? a. When you are on a federal installation, it is federally run. ii. Congress:
- Raises and support Armies (no appropriation for use greater than 2 years) > it is the house representative serve 2 years, senate 6 years, and president is 4 years. a. The mind of the people changes during these time, therefore they need to touch on it again.
- Makes rules for the government regulation of the land and naval forces. Ex. UCMJ, etc.
- Congress can call out militia for federal service, according to the constitution. a. It does not specifically let the president do that iii. Constitution’s Militia Clauses:
- Know congressional and v. state power re the militia a. Provide for Congress Organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the service of the US… according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. i. …Reserving to the State respectively, the Appointment
- We want to defeat Indian threat a. Establish North American control
b. Obtain bargaining chip
- End Royal Navy harassment on the high seas.
- Confirm sovereignty ii. We have a lot of enthusiasm going into the war by poorly prep. (no troops/ships) c. Britain AIMS: i. Britain is distracted by France d. The First War 1812 Campaigns: (trying to take Canada) i. Militia: 1792 militia act: militia cannot serve outside their state ii. Tecumseh joined the British: e. Detroit Front 1813 i. Initially the British/Indian were successful ii. British Indian strains as US starts to recover f. Battle of Lake Erie 1813: i. LOC: US destroy British Fleet on Lake Erie = the US severed the British LOC on Lake Erie. Deny british ability to move supply into the area. ii. We won the lake we control the area. Now we can embark on offensive operation. iii. Battle of Lake Erie set up victory:
- Since we have control of Lake Erie, we can fight into Canada without fear of being cut off.
- Tecumseh killed g. The Creek i. Impact on the Creek Unity:
- There were disagreement amongst Creek on who to support: US or not. a. Tecumseh follower v. US loyalist attack each other. ii. Impact on the South:
- The followers butchered each other within Indian nation end us in a massacre an entire fort. This made US in the south think that Britain is behind all this. h. Jackson’s Creek War Campaign: i. Jackson’s Indian Allies with Cherokee ii. Questionable offensive in Florida. He won 2 battles against the red stick (T followers). iii. Problems:
- There were mutiny brewing. His soldiers wanted to go home
- Logistic issues iv. Horseshoe Bend Battle: Jackson Won
- Jackson has exterior line
- Red sticks have interior lines: they use it poorly. Left some part undefended. ***
- Jackson did use Indian allies to seize the initiative, overran the undefended top of the bend. i. 1814: i. To optimize terms:
- Britain makes its own 3 prong attack: a. Invade through upstate NY b. Raid US coastal cities c. Seize mouth of Mississippi river
they
move on large group and then run back into the swamps. c. Terrain makes it hard for maneuvering of large army. They don’t know the area. d. We did not fight year round. In the summer when it’s hot and muggy, this lead to disease and death of troops, therefore we don’t fight in the summer. This gives the Seminole time recoup and rejuvenated to comeback and raise hell. (delay in tactic) e. M8. COIN problem… Second Seminole war and Vietnam War, terrain was NOT the only problem that the US forces face.
- Seminole Problem: a. Disunity + they are vulnerable
- Seminole War Solutions: Stick and Carrot a. We changes our tactics. b. Use Seminole allies and other Indian allies? We use Seminoles and other tribes to fight each other. Taking advantaging of disunity. We use allies to talk to the resistors. T i. Tell them west is not bad. c. US scorched earth, campaign year round on the Seminole’s crops. But, this does not support our war aim of “removing” them west. d. We end up not removing all Seminoles. Lesson 3: Mexican War/ “ Manifest Destiny” A. Mexican War Background: a. Overall Order of Battle: i. Improved profession/ technical competence b. Our War Arms: i. Annex mexico’s northwestern region c. The Battle of Palo Alto: (different terrain might drive different use of tactic and weapons) i. Taylor:
- Key terrain: flat open terrain: we thought we are at a disadvantage because Mexico have good cavalry. a. US Mounted artillery can be move anywhere to attack the Mexican. Favor mounted weapon. Clear field of fire. d. Resaca de La Palma: i. Thick terrain this time: artillery does not have the same effect as Palo Alto. Different style of tactic.
- We won the battle. Mexican break contact. e. Compare: these 2 battles are not the same = terrain and tactics B. C. 1843 Taylor’s Monterrey Campaign: a. Logistic issue: i. Too many people, not enough supplies. Ran out of
b. Principle of war: i. Taylor use maneuvering and offensive tactic. He surround the Mexican army and box them into the center of the town.
- Good use of maneuvering via exterior line.
- Went up against superior force. c. METT-TC d. Disease: along the route, its very hot = underfed and under trained soldiers= sick sick sick. e. Result: Mexican army surrender. He made them promise to leave their weapons behind, and not to come back south. Taylor might have won but he should have rid that army altogether. D. Battle of Buena Vista: a. Attacked by bigger force but how did we win? (Zachary Taylor) (M10: he is a steady leader, use terrain well?) Mexican War to Mid- Civil War Cont. A. Buena Vista Campaign Politics, intelligence, Security: a. Santa Ana pursue General Taylor, knowing that he is weak. b. Battle of Buena Vista: a. He lost a quarter of his army on the march to Taylor (5000 troops dead) b. Combat Crisis: Taylor: yes.
- Outnumbered c. Santa Ana had larger force d. Taylor was cool and collected the entire battle. e. Terrain Taylor use:
- Leadership: Taylor had great critical and moral courage. Motivate them to move on
- Taylor won. Due to good leadership. He use the terrain defensive very well. He use terrain as obstacle against Santa Ana f. M10. Excellent planning and terrain use on part of Taylor. He use the terrain as canalize obstacle. Santa Ana had larger force. But Taylor won. Defensive victory. c. Scott: a. Winfield Scott’s Mexico City Campaign =. b. Disease:
- Disease is a consideration from being in the area. d. Vera Cruz a. Scott plan well:
- Capture city of Vera Cruz quickly b. He move inland rapidly, but he had to wait to avoid disease
- Disease will not delay his campaign e. Cerro Gordo: a. Terrain is hills and revere b. Maneuver by Scoot: there are maneuver options. It is tough but still c. Scott did find a way around. d. Result: e. M f. Chapultepec: a. Piece of high ground. Castle on the hill. He need is because it blocks entrance
into Mexico city b. S2. It’s a castle on hill, not easily bypass. Us troops easily bypass c. Special kind of unit use g. Scott’s Civil Dilemma a. Scott entered the city b. He use all principle of war well c. Good Civil Effort and Logistic:
- He manage them well, B. Civil War a.^ Rifle^ Musket^ Firing^ a^ Minie^ Ball^ (v.^ Smoothbore^ Musket):^ significant effective range. Increase killing power & more accurate. b. Hardee’s Tactics:
- They tried to account for rifle muskets.
- They stay in large regimental line unit. They want a big unit and fast. Increase marching tempo. Instead of slowly moving toward the enemy, you are jogging toward the enemy @ shoulder to shoulder formation. They still use something similar to linear tactic.
- These are Big unit and its not very flexible. Depends on terrain, it will be hard to maneuver. b. Path to Civil War: a. Rising tension over Slavery & Cotton c. Civil War Aim: a. North: maintain union b. South: want independence d. General Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan: a. This plan is strategy of the North, first, take out Richmond. Control south sea port = don’t let anything in or export out. And take control the Mississippi river = cut them in half. Strangle the south economically.
- This plan is ongoing. b. Trinity of war: in the Anaconda plan, policy is dominant factor. e. Southern Plan: a. Offensive – Defensive:
- OD Strategy: a. Is Lee’s plan to intercept north at key invasion route. He wants to fight North at the time and location of his choosing. b. Its either that or to launch opportunistic raiding in the north. c. What would give him opportunity to do either plan? i. They need Lee to be under “Heavy local pressure”. ii. They need to do it fast and without hesitation. d. M6. Offensive-Defensive: does it work? Understand the concept.
- If you are fighting lee, Jackson, early and some of these other Rebs, what to keep in mind? f. Civil War Combined Arms Challenges: a. Communication: hard to communicate on loud battle or see signal flag. You
